Have you seen them? They are stunning. They are bright. They are vanishing soon. We are talking about the beautiful fall leaves that are gracing our fair city right now.
Yes, the winds and rains are making their exit quicker.
Where to see the changing leaves while you can:
Washington Park, located in the West Hills of Portland, offers numerous trails and paths through the lush forested area. Visit Hoyt Arboretum within the park to see a diverse collection of trees and vibrant fall colors.
As one of the largest urban forests in the United States, Forest Park is an excellent place to explore nature and view fall foliage. Many hiking trails wind through the park, providing you with opportunities to immerse yourself in the autumn scenery.
Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic cinder cone with several hiking trails that lead to the top, providing panoramic views of the city and surrounding forests. It’s a great place to experience the fall colors while enjoying the cityscape.
Powell Butte offers a mix of meadows, forests, and open spaces. The park has a network of trails that lead you through varied landscapes, allowing you to enjoy the fall foliage.
The Portland Japanese Garden, located in Washington Park, is a serene place to admire the fall foliage, with meticulously maintained gardens featuring beautiful Japanese maples and other trees. This one is truly beautiful in the fall.
Within Washington Park, Hoyt Arboretum is a great place to explore a diverse collection of trees, many of which display stunning fall colors. You can take a guided tour to learn more about the different tree species and their autumn transformations.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Located just outside of Portland, Tryon Creek State Natural Area features a wide range of trails surrounded by lush forest, making it an excellent place for a peaceful fall walk.
If you’re willing to venture a bit farther from Portland, the Mount Hood area offers some of the most spectacular fall foliage in the region. Drive along Highway 26 to enjoy the changing colors or explore hiking trails in the area.
The Columbia River Gorge, located east of Portland, is renowned for its stunning fall foliage. The scenic Columbia River Highway and numerous hiking trails offer breathtaking views of the colorful leaves.
Now, what do you do with the beautiful leaves after they fall in the fall? Leaves can be put to good use rather than disposed of.
Here are several options for what to do with leaves:
Composting
Leaves make an excellent addition to your compost pile. They are rich in carbon, which helps balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in your compost. Shred the leaves or mix them with other compostable materials to create nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
Mulching
Shredded leaves can be used as mulch to insulate and protect your garden beds. They help retain moisture, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature.
Leaf Mold
Leaf mold is a type of compost made exclusively from leaves. To create leaf mold, pile the leaves in a designated area, keep them moist, and allow them to decompose over a year or longer. This rich, crumbly material can be used as a soil conditioner or mulch.
Insulation
In cold climates, leaves can be used as natural insulation for tender plants. Simply pile leaves around the base of plants to protect them from frost.
Lawn Mowing
Use a mulching mower to finely chop and disperse leaves across your lawn. This can add organic matter to the soil, improving its quality. Alternatively, you can rake up the chopped leaves and use them as mulch in your garden.
Remember that leaves are a valuable resource for your garden and the environment, so consider their potential before simply discarding them.
BUT let’s get to the best part of leaves…CRAFTS! Leaf crafts are a wonderful way to embrace nature’s beauty and create unique and artistic creations.
Here are a few leaf craft ideas to inspire you:
Leaf Pressing
Collect various leaves of different shapes and sizes. Place them between the pages of a heavy book or use a flower press and leave them to dry for a few days. Once dry, you can use the pressed leaves for various crafts, such as making bookmarks, greeting cards, or framed leaf art.
Leaf Mobile
Gather a collection of colorful leaves and attach them to strings of different lengths. Tie the strings to a circular ring or a branch, creating a mobile that can be hung indoors or outdoors. The mobile will sway gently in the wind, showcasing the vibrant colors of the leaves.
Leaf Rubbings
Place a leaf vein-side up on a flat surface. Cover it with a piece of thin paper (such as tracing paper) and gently rub a crayon or pencil over the paper. The leaf’s texture and shape will transfer onto the paper, creating a beautiful leaf rubbing. Experiment with different colors and leaf sizes to create a collection of leaf rubbings.
Leaf Masks
Use large, sturdy leaves as the base for creating masks. Decorate the leaves with paint, markers, or glued-on embellishments like googly eyes, feathers, or sequins. Attach a string or elastic band to the sides of the leaf to hold the mask in place.
Leaf Wreaths
Collect a variety of leaves and arrange them in a circular shape, overlapping them to create a wreath. Secure the leaves together with glue or by tying them with a string or ribbon. You can use leaves of the same color for a monochromatic look or mix different colors and shapes for a vibrant wreath.
Leaf Lanterns
Collect translucent leaves with interesting shapes, such as ferns or thin maple leaves. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue to a glass jar or votive candle holder, and carefully press the leaves onto the glass, arranging them as desired. Once dry, place a tea light or an LED candle inside the jar to create a beautiful leaf-patterned lantern.
Remember, when collecting leaves for crafts, ensure that you are not harming any living plants and respect local regulations about leaf collection. Enjoy the process of creating with nature’s gifts, and let your creativity shine!
Get out there and catch those beauties while you can. Have you made any leaf crafts? Any leaf looking adventures. What a fun treat for the season!
Johanna is married with two kids, three dogs, three cats, one leopard gecko, several chickens, and a few fish. She has been in the Pacific Northwest since the dream was alive in the 90s but has Southern roots and hails from Arkansas. The family spends a lot of time at some sort of sporting event for the kids. Johanna likes to fast craft, garden, host parties, and bake. Johanna and her crew go hard traveling, DIY-ing, and are always up for a new adventure or challenge.